Chapter 58 beggar

beggar "There are also beggars in foreign countries", yes; but their ways or techniques of beggars are not the same.It’s common in Shanghai in recent years, a lot of difficult situations are written in chalk on the roadside cement, asking for help, and the person who writes is sitting next to the chalk writing. I have also seen this kind of beggar in Beiping, but there is no cement on the roadside. , it can only be written on paper or cloth - but it looks like a foreign beggar; I don't know if this method is a "traditional product" or "the same heart, the same reason"?

London beggars paint more on the side of the road than write.I have only seen an old man with long beards near Travaga Square (there are not many long beards in foreign countries), sitting on the cement, with a few lines of white powder words scrawled in front of him.He said that he was born in a university, but now that the cold is here, what is the use of university? These few complaints seem to have moved some people who came and went. Teach people a little awe.There was a small suitcase on his right, which was opened, ready for someone to throw money into it.That place was originally a bustling city extending in all directions, and there were indeed a lot of people throwing money away.Coppers (pennies) scattered inside and outside the box; other beggars seem to have had no such luck.

Most of the painters use chalks of various colors, but some also use paints.There are three patterns seen.Or the word ToLive (survival) with double hooks, each letter is about one foot square, finely drawn in the outline of the double hooks.The letters are neat and even, and the whole body is meticulous.Or double hook Go#dLuck (good luck), or only use the word Luck (luck). ——"Survival" is the way of oneself; "good luck" and "luck" are words of prayer for passers-by.Or draw landscapes in four or five directions, each of which is about one foot in size.Usually the painter sits at one end of the painting, and at the other end he turns his old hat upside down and puts the copper inside.

Some of these beggar painters have received formal training in art schools, and some like to draw a few strokes on weekdays, which can be regarded as "fun".When it was over, I had no choice but to work on the cement.On May 10, 1932, these people also came to an exhibition.A few pictures were selected and printed in The Evening News that day, and two of them were embroidered.The man in front of him was nicknamed "Oxford Street Boss Kettle". He was a sailor during the fist turmoil and had been to China. He still remembers the situation at that time.The two paintings were embroidered on canvas (canvas), each with 80,000 stitches.He embroidered a portrait of King Edward of England, which is said to be quite appreciated by the current queen; that was the happiest time in his life.Now it's just wandering around Oxford Street.

There is still one person in the evening paper.He has worked in Hal#s for thirty-five years, and his name is often written on posters.Three years ago, he also led a circus troupe to parade around, and he played the main role.I have been to all the cities in the British Isles; I have been to a hundred places on the mainland, and I have also been to a dozen places in the United States.Also know Jaborin.But by bad luck, "Old London" was penniless.He remembered that his friends had said how interesting still life sketching was, and he had learned to play it himself; at this time, he had no choice but to rely on this "trick" to hang out on the Thames Embankment.But he was afraid that too many people would recognize him, so he always turned his back to the middle of the road and covered his face with the brim of his hat.He said that it is not easy to paint on cement; the most fear is rain, a few minutes of rain may ruin the whole day's work.He said that he always wanted to go to the stage again one day.

There are music beggars outside of painting beggars.I saw one on Oxford Street, who seemed to be sitting on a three-wheeled bicycle when he was open-mouthed; I remember it was quite majestic.On Easter Friday, I saw a group in a cold street. It seemed that one person was pushing the organ, the other was pressing it, and the other was singing "Psalm"--the one who pushed the organ also joined in.This group of people looked embarrassed.It is said that talking boxes and so on are rented; they probably always have something to earn.On another cold street, I saw a man with two women dressed as if they had just come out of a garbage dump.A woman is still wearing rouge, she is like a piece of red clay!The men played music, and the women danced in disorder, on the slippery road just after rain.There are very few such female beggars.I saw another violin player, who seemed to be very young and elegant, standing facing the passers-by on the path.He was holding a little monkey in his right hand; when playing the piano, he first squatted holding it on his left shoulder.After pulling the bow a few times, the monkey urinated; he just pretended nothing had happened, letting his clothes drip.

I saw one in Oxford Street, and it was a real mess.He probably didn't have the strength to borrow chatterboxes and so on; he just found a board, three or four feet long and five or six inches wide, on which he put a string, and stretched the string with a glass water cup.Putting the board under the curb, he squatted down and played it with both hands.It was when the lights first came on, and there was a steady stream of people on the trail; pairs of feet hurried past him, and it seemed that not many saw him.The sounds of cars, footsteps, and conversations on the street were mixed together, and his low-pitched voice might not be easy for others to hear.But he still buried his head and flicked his hand.

A few years ago, a friend saw someone reciting Dickens' novels.Everyone was queuing up at the gate of the theatre, waiting to buy tickets; this man was reciting "A Piece of Meat for the Rest of His Life", reading and doing it at the same time.This should be able to find a few more coins, because it is more interesting than those chatterboxes and so on. When the police forbid empty-handed beggars, all beggars have to become buskers.If you have no skills to sell, you have to carry something in your hand, such as matches and leather shoelaces.In the corner of the road, there are often men or women standing silently holding such things, and most of their faces are gloomy.In fact, selling art and goods is mostly a cover; but after all, it teaches people to have self-esteem, and it is not allowed to ask for money for nothing.Only the blind can ask for money for nothing.They were standing or sitting; sometimes there was a card on their chest saying "Blind".There is another kind of people, between beggars and non-beggars.Once I couldn't find a juggling hall, so I asked an old man on the corner of the road.He graciously led him away, saying that he had just lost his job and had no money to spend, and asked me for a favor.Five pennies (about 30 cents in China) was given as a reward, and he still fought for it.In fact, there are only two or three hundred steps.Followed, complained, begged for nothing, only met once; the street lights were very dark there, there were no police, and there were few people on the road, and I was a foreigner, so he had the thick skin and courage—of course he was not blind.

Made on October 26, 1935. (Originally published in "Middle School Students" No. 60 on December 1, 1935)